Automatic collapsible umbrella structure

ABSTRACT

An automatic collapsible umbrella according to the invention includes a solid shaft secondary rib, and middle junctions provided at pivotal connection portions of the secondary rib with an inner rib and the secondary rib with a connection rib. Without requiring provision of openings at the secondary rib, corresponding connection openings and channels are instead disposed at the middle junctions, thereby providing the secondary rib with higher flexibility strength for reducing chances of bending, and effectively minimizing a volume of the secondary rib for further substantially reducing an entire volume of the collapsed umbrella for easy portability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to an umbrella structure, and more particularly, to an automatic collapsible umbrella structure.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Umbrellas are easy and practical to use for sheltering from the rain, and therefore they have long been important commodities in people's every day life. Especially automatic collapsible umbrellas, which can be folded for even more convenient storage and carrying, have gained favors of and are being used by majority among the users. In addition, automatic collapsible umbrellas are convenient for storage because volumes of the umbrella bodies thereof can be decreased. However, rib assemblies of prior umbrellas are U-shaped with hollow interiors, meaning that such rib assemblies are larger in volume, and the spaces dented within the U-shaped ribs are comparatively deeper, thus leaving the rib assemblies with insufficient hardness against bending and twisting caused by windy weathers or accidental impacts. Furthermore, in the prior automatic collapsible umbrella, openings connected with inner ribs and connection ribs are provided at secondary ribs, and are distributed with small spaces in between at middle sections of the secondary ribs. As a result, flexibility strength of the secondary ribs is significantly reduced and utilization of the umbrella is also affected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the invention is to overcome disadvantages of prior techniques by providing an automatic collapsible umbrella structure with a minimized volume for easy portability and having higher flexibility strength.

[0006] To achieve the aforesaid object, techniques according the invention comprise a solid shaft secondary rib, middle junctions provided at pivotal connection portions of the secondary rib with an inner rib and the secondary rib with a connection rib, and a bent portion pre-formed at the pivotal connection portions of the secondary rib, respectively. Wherein, the middle junctions are clamped and fastened around the secondary rib; that is, the middle junctions are U-shaped for wrapping around an outer periphery of the secondary rib.

[0007] The bent portion pivotally connecting the inner rib is bent toward the inner rib pivotally connected, and a pivotal axis is penetrated into an axis opening of the middle junction and is exactly fastened at an inner side of the bent portion.

[0008] The middle junction may also be directly clamped and wrapped around a middle section of the vertical secondary rib, and the middle junction is provided with a connection portion for. coordinating and connecting to the inner rib and the connection rib.

[0009] The bent portion at the secondary rib for coordinating with the inner rib and the connection may be an integral with the secondary rib. To be more precise, the secondary rib is provided with only one bent portion, and a middle junction for connecting to the inner rib and the connection rib.

[0010] The secondary rib according to the invention is a solid shaft, and middle junctions are provided at pivotal connection portions of the secondary rib with the inner rib and the secondary rib with the connection rib. Without requiring provision of openings at the secondary rib, corresponding openings are instead disposed at the middle junctions. As a result, the secondary rib is provided with higher flexibility strength for reducing chances of bending thereof, and a volume of the umbrella is minimized for further substantially reducing an entire volume of the collapsed umbrella for easy portability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 shows a structural schematic view according to the invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows an enlarged partial view illustrating the structure according to the invention.

[0013]FIG. 3 shows a schematic view illustrating the structure of the secondary ribs according to the invention.

[0014]FIG. 4 shows a schematic view illustrating the invention being half-collapsed.

[0015]FIG. 5 shows a schematic view illustrating the invention being fully collapsed.

[0016]FIG. 6 shows schematic view illustrating the connection between the secondary rib and the middle junction in another embodiment in accordance with the invention.

[0017]FIG. 7 shows schematic view illustrating the connection between the secondary rib and the middle junction in yet another embodiment in accordance with the invention.

[0018]FIG. 8 shows a structural view illustrating the inner rib being formed with the middle junction of the connection rib 7 as an integral according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the invention comprises an inner rib 11, a middle rib 12, an outer rib 13, and a secondary rib 2. Wherein, the middle rib 2 is formed by pivotally connecting a front strut 121 and a rear strut 122.

[0020] The inner rib 11 has one end thereof pivotally connected to an upper nest 3, and the other end thereof pivotally connected to a middle section of the secondary rib 2.

[0021] The upper nest 3 is fastened at one end of a post 4, whereas the other end of the post 4 is penetrated through inner openings of a middle nest 5 and a lower nest 6, and the middle nest 5 and the lower nest 6 is supported by a compression spring 51 in between. The secondary rib 2 has one end thereof pivotally connected to the middle nest 5, and the other end thereof pivotally connected to the front strut 121. An outer end of the rear strut 122 is pivotally connected to the outer rib 13. The secondary rib 2 is a solid shaft. Pivotal connection portions of the secondary rib 2 with the inner rib 11 and the secondary rib 2 with the connection rib 8 are disposed with a middle junction 8, respectively. Also, each of the pivotal connection portions of the secondary rib 2 is provided with a pre-formed bent portion 21. The middle junction 8 is clamped and fastened around the secondary rib 2; that is, the middle junction 8 is a U-shaped body wrapping around an outer periphery of the secondary rib 2.

[0022] When stretching the umbrella, the middle nest 5 is impelled upward using actions of the compression spring 51 between the middle nest 5 and the lower nest 6. The secondary rib 5 is driven and stretched by the middle nest 5, and the inner rib 11, front and rear struts 121 and 122, the outer rib 13, and the connection rib 7 are also stretched in sequence. In the meanwhile, the connection rib 7 also pulls the lower nest 7 to move upward, and the umbrella becomes completed stretched. Wherein, the secondary rib 2 is a solid shaft, pivotal connection portions of the secondary rib 2 with the inner rib 11, and the secondary rib 2 with the connection rib 8 are disposed with a middle junction 8, respectively, and corresponding openings are disposed at the middle junctions 8. Therefore, without requiring provision of connection openings at the secondary rib 2, flexibility strength of the secondary rib 2 is ensured for lowering chances of bending. Furthermore, a volume of the secondary rib 2 is effective reduced, thereby substantially decreasing an entire volume of the collapsed umbrella for easy portability.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, the bent portions 21 are pre-formed at locations where the middle junctions 8 wrap around the secondary rib 2. Wherein, the bent portion 21 pivotally connecting the inner rib 11 is bent toward the inner rib 11, and a pivotal axis 14 is penetrated into an axis opening 81 of the middle junction 8 and is exactly connected and fastened at an inner side of the bent portion 21. An end of the connection rib 7 for coordinating with the middle junction 8 is clasped in an interior of the middle junction 8 via a channel 82 of the middle junction 8, and is also precisely fastened at an inner indenture of the bent portion 21.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 6 showing a schematic view illustrating the connection between the secondary rib 2 and the middle junction 8 in another embodiment in accordance with the invention, wherein the bent portion 21 pivotally connecting the secondary rib 2 and the inner rib 22 is bent toward a reverse direction of the inner rib 11. The middle junction 8 is provided with an orifice 83 for coordinating with the bent portion 21 of the secondary rib 2, and the pivotal axis 14 is penetrated into the pivotal opening 81 of the middle junction 8.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 7 showing a schematic view illustrating the connection between the secondary rib 2 and the middle junction 8 in yet another embodiment in accordance with the invention, wherein the middle junction 8 is directly wrapped around the vertical secondary rib 2, and the middle junction 8 is provided with a connection portion for coordinating and connecting to the inner rib 11 and the connection rib 7.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 8 showing a structural view illustrating the inner rib 11 being formed with the middle junction 8 of the connection rib 7 as an integral, wherein the bent portion 21 at the secondary rib 2 for coordinating with the inner rib 11 and the connection 7 is bent toward a same direction as the secondary rib 2, and is also an integral with the secondary rib 2. The middle junction 8 is at the same time wrapped around the bent portion 21, and is disposed with the pivotal opening 81, and the channel 82 for connecting the connection rib 7.

[0027] It is observed from the above that, the rib assembly according to the invention provides practical values such as having higher flexibility strength for reducing chances of bending thereof, and minimizing a volume of an umbrella for easy portability. It is of course to be understood that the embodiment described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic collapsible umbrella comprising a middle rib formed by pivotally connecting a front strut and a rear strut, an inner rib having one end thereof pivotally connected to an upper nest and the other end thereof pivotally connected to a middle section of a secondary rib, the secondary rib has one end thereof pivotally connected to a middle nest and the other end thereof pivotally connected to the front strut, and a connection rib supporting between the secondary rib and a lower nest; and being characterized by: the secondary rib being a solid shaft; and middle junctions provided at pivotal connection portions of the secondary rib with the inner rib, and the secondary rib with the connection rib; and a bent portion pre-formed at the pivotal connection portions of the secondary rib, respectively.
 2. The automatic collapsible umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein the middle junctions are clamped and fastened around the secondary rib; that is, the middle junctions are U-shaped for wrapping around an outer periphery of the secondary rib.
 3. The automatic collapsible umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bent portion pivotally connecting the inner rib is bent toward the inner rib pivotally connected, and a pivotal axis is penetrated into an axis opening of the middle junction and is exactly fastened at an inner side of the bent portion.
 4. The automatic collapsible umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bent portion pivotally connecting the secondary rib and the inner rib is bent toward a reverse direction of the inner rib, and the pivotal axis is directly fastened within the axis opening of the middle junction.
 5. The automatic collapsible umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein the middle junction is directly clamped and wrapped around a middle section of the vertical secondary rib, and the middle junction is provided with a connection portion for coordinating and connecting to the inner rib and the connection rib.
 6. The automatic collapsible umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bent portion at the secondary rib for coordinating with the inner rib and the connection is an integral with the secondary rib; that is, the secondary rib is provided with only one bent portion, and a middle junction for connecting to the inner rib and the connection rib. 